Page 54 of Highland Steel

“Except for ye,” said Caleb with a yawn, sitting up in bed. Slink shot off the pallet and disappeared in the shadows. “Or at least that’s what I hear from Ethan – that ye and the Sassenach were at it again.”

“Canna that fool ever keep his mouth shut?” grumbled Logan, putting a few things in his travel bag for his journey.

“I see ye’re gettin’ ready to go to the Drummonds to get back the Sword of Triumph.”

Logan shook his head and threw down his extra leine. “So the whole clan kens about it now?”

“I’m no’ sure if the whole clan does, but yer close friends do, Logan.” Caleb got out of bed and dressed quickly. He pulled a travel bag out from under the table and added a few things to it.

“What’s that? What’re ye doin’?” asked Logan, looking over his shoulder.

“I’m just packin’ up a few things that Slink and I might need on our travels.”

“Where are ye goin’?” he asked curiously. “Ye didna say anythin’ about havin’ plans to travel.”

“That’s because I didna have any until I talked to Ethan last night.”

“God’s eyes, nay!” spat Logan, spinning around. “Ye are no’ comin’ with me to the Drummonds. I am goin’ to do this by myself.”

“I’m sorry, but I canna let ye do that.”

“Just stay out of this, Caleb. I dinna want anyone else to die because of me.”

“Well, we dinna want ye to die for doin’ such a foolish thing either.”

“Here’s Bug now,” said Logan, picking up the box of items and going outside to meet the traveling merchant. Jack was waiting outside the door and kept pace alongside him as he made his way to the merchant’s cart. “Bug,” Logan called out as the short, squat man with the bugged out eyes brought his horse to a stop.

“Guid mornin’ to ye, Logan. It’s a beautiful day today.” Bug got off his cart and hopped to the ground.

Logan wanted to talk to the man before everyone surrounded him like they usually did. Since Bug visited every clan, Logan thought he might have information about the Drummonds that he could use to his advantage.

“I need to talk to ye,” said Logan, walking up to him with the box in his hands.

“Oh guid, I see ye have more of yer whittled items.” Bug stuck his hand in the box to inspect the goods. “They bring me a nice return since all of the clans fight over them.”

“Here, take them,” said Logan, pushing the box into the man’s hands.

“Well, come take a look at my wares and tell me what ye’d like for them in trade.” Bug started to walk toward the wagon.

“I dinna want to trade them.”

“What did ye say?” asked Bug, turning around. He had a hearing problem and had to face a person to read their lips to help him hear what they were saying.

Logan faced him. “I said I dinna want to trade.”

“Oh, ye want for to me to pay outright then? Let me see what ye’ve got to determine the worth.”

“Nay, I dinna want money for them either. What I’d like from ye instead is some information on the Drummonds.”

Bug shook his head. “Ye ken I am no’ a gossip,” said the man. “I keep my nose clean and therefore my head attached. I dinna ken a thing.”

“Stop it, Bug. We both ken ye are the biggest leak of gossip next to Caleb. I’m no’ askin’ ye to do anythin’ that might get ye killed. I only want to ken if ye’ve seen the Drummonds lately and if so, if they had a sword with a snake carved into the handle and gemstones in the hilt.”

“Ye mean the MacKeefe’s Sword of Triumph? I thought they stole it from ye years ago.”

“They did. But I’ve recently learned the English stole it from them. And now I believe they’ve got it back again. Now, did ye see any of them with it lately?”

“Nay.” Bug turned around and Logan grabbed his arm, turning him back around.